Cove base molding



F. J. BORKENSTEIN COVE BASE MOLDING Filed Dec. 16, 1935 v March 22,1938.

INVENTOR.

zwfwz BY 1 3 ATTORNEY:

improvement is to provide a reinforced pre- Patented Mar. 22, 1938UNITED STATES PATIENT 0mm:

. f2.1-11,922 oovE BASE MOLDING. Frank 'J.-Borkenstein, Fort Wayne,Application Dec nter 16, 935, Serial-No; "54,571

fi Claims (ciao--74) This invention relates to improvements in cove basemolding, the molding being suitable to form a curved connection betweenthe covering of the floor and walls of a building. The objectof theshaped cove base molding that is readily installed at the juncture ofthe wall and floor and against the edges of which are abutted thecorresponding edges of the wall and floor covering sheets so that asmooth continuous unbroken surface of covering for the floor and wallsis presented. Another object is to provide a floor and wall coveringincluding a cove base molding connecting the covering for the floor andwalls, at the junctures thereof, that is economically furnished andinstalled. Other objects and advantages of the invention appear in thefollowing description.

An illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanyingdrawing, in which:-

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the floor and wall of a building towhich the invention is applied, the View being fragmentary;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a section of a cove base moldingembodying the invention; and

Fig. 3 is a transverse section of the molding shown in the other views.

The illustrative embodiment of the invention consists of a strip I ofcovering, preferably made of a composition of material in sheet formwith an asphalt base, such as is commonly used for surfacing the floorsand walls of buildings. The middle portion of the strip I, from one endto the other, is bent so that the opposite side portions 2 and 3 of thestrip extend in planes substantially at right angles to each other. Thebent portion 6 preferably is arcuate and is shaped to present more orless curvature as may be desired between the flat angular portions 2 and3 of the strip.

Upon the outer face of the angular strip thus formed is permanentlysecured a reenforce consisting of a stiff metallic plate 5 shaped to fitsnugly and cover the back faces of the cover strip I, and has numerousbarbs 6--! that project into the body of the strip. Preferably, themarginal edges B9 of the: plate extend beyond the corresponding edgesl0ll of the strip for the purposes hereinafter described. The barbs maybe formed in any suitable manner, such as by punching small portions ofthe plate through the back thereof so that undetached projectionsforming the barbs extend from the opposite face thereof.

In forming the cove base molding, the strip l is heated to such degreeof temperature that it becomes more or less plastic, and is then laidupon the barbed faceof the plate 5 after which force is applied by anysuitable equipment (not shown) to cause theplate and strip to becomeimpressed togetl'ier so .the, barbs become imbedded in the 5 body of thestrip." During this operation, owing to, thetendencyi of the plasticbody, material to crowd intothe barb openings 12 in the plate, the barbsare forced backwardly and become clinched to somev extent in the body ofmaterial of which the strip is formed.

The operation of bending the middle portion of the stripand plate may beaccomplished concurrently as they are pressed together, or, they may bebent separately preliminary to the pressing operation for uniting themfinally together. These operations are accomplished by the use ofsuitable mechanical equipment (not shown) such as may readily be devisedwith the exercise of mechanical skill known in the art.

In use, the base strip thus formed is positioned in place with the backof the plate resting against the floor l3 and wall I4 of a building andis there held in place by applying a suitable adhesive material betweenthe plate and the corresponding faces of the floor and wall. SheetsIii-l6 of covering, preferably made of material, similar to that ofwhich the strip l is formed, are then placed upon the floor and againstthe wall It with their corresponding edges l1-l8 abutting against theedges |ll2 of the strip l and overlapping the corresponding marginaledges 9-8 of the plate 5. The sheets l5 and I6 are secured in place bymeans of a suitable adhesive such as in common use. After the moldingand sheets have been properly assembled and secured in place thecontinuity of the exposed faces of the sheets and strip is substantiallyuniform. Also,v even alinement of the sheets with the strip at theirjunctures is established and preserved because of overlapping of thesheets with respect to the marginal edges of the plate irrespective ofunevenness in the surfaces of the floor and wall that ordinarily occur.

I claim:

1. 'A pre-shaped cove base molding constituted of an asphaltic coverstrip, the middle portion of said strip from one end to the other beingbent and the opposite side portions thereof extending in planessubstantially at right angles to each other, said bent portion beingarcuate, and a bent metallic reenforce consisting of a stiff metallicplate secured to the back of said cover strip conforming to the adjacentfaces thereof and provided with numerous integral barbs that areimbedded and clinched into the body material of said strip, the marginaledges of said plate extending beyond the corresponding sides of saidstrip.

2. A pre-shaped cove base molding constituted of an asphaltic coverstrip, the middle portion of said strip from one end to the other beingbent and the opposite side portions thereof extending in planessubstantially at right angles to each other, said bent portion beingarcuate, and a bent metallic reenforce consisting of a stiff metallicplate secured to the back of said cover strip conforming to the adjacentfaces thereof and provided with numerous integral barbs that areimbedded and clinched into the body material of said strip.

3. A pre-shaped cove base molding constituted of an asphaltic coverstrip, the middle portion of said strip from one end to the other beingbent and the opposite side portions thereof extending in planessubstantially at right angles to each other, said bent portion beingarcuate, and a bent metallic reenforce consisting of a stiff metallicplate associated with said strip, extending along and conforming withthe arcuate portion of the strip upon the back thereof, said platehaving numerous integral barbs that are imbedded and clinched into thebody material of said strip.

4. A pre-shaped cove base molding constituted of an asphaltic coverstrip and a stifi metallic plate associated with said strip secured tothe back thereof and provided with barbs that are imbedded in the bodymaterial of said strip, said strip and plate being bent from one end tothe other to form an arcuate middle portion and fiat adjacent portionsthat extend substantially at right angles to each other.

5. A pre-shaped cove base molding constituted of an asphaltic coverstrip and a stiff metallic plate associated with said strip intimatelysecured to the back thereof, said strip and plate being bent from oneend to the other to form an arcuate middle portion and adjacent portionsthat extend substantially at right angles to each other.

6. A pre-shaped cove base molding constituted of an asphaltic coverstrip, and a reenforce consisting of an arcuate stifi" metal plateassociated with said strip intimately and permanently secured to theback faces of said strip before said molding is installed to provide aconnection between the covering sheets for the floor and walls of abuilding.

FRANK J. BORKENSTEIN.

